Steam-trap



(No Model.)

J. MGD. STUART.

STEAM TRAP.

Patented. June 17 /z COC ATTESTI lATTORNEY.

m oms PETERS col, PRUTMIYNo., wAsmNaroN, uA c.

UNITED STATES e PATENT OFFICE.

lJOHN MCD. STUART, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEAM-T RAP.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,594, dated T une 17, 1890.

Application filed September 9, 1889. Serial No. 323,4/l7. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MCD. STUART, a citizen of the United State, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Steam-Trap; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that type of steam-traps in which an expansion tube or pipe is employed to automatically open and close the outlet-valve from the trap, said tube, when filled with water of condensation, contracting to open the outlet-valve and permit the passing away of the water collected in the trap, and, when filled with steam, expanding to close said outlet-valve and hold it closed until the trap again rells with water of condensation; and the present improvement has for its objects, first, to provide a simple and effective means to prevent buckling or bending of the expansion-tube as the same attains an undue limit ot' expansion; second, to afford a simple and durable construction of valve-stem, whereby the water is carried off through an axial passagein thesaid stem, and, third, to afford means for adjusting the valve to its seat in setting the apparatus in a simple and ready manner; and I attain such objects bythe construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which represents in axial section a steam-trap constructed in accordance with my present invention.

As represented in the drawing, the trap consists of an upper ixed head or receivingchamber A and a lower 0r discharge head or chamber B, connected together by tie-rods C, that pass through ears or lugs c on the sides of the upper head, and the arms of the spider B', that carry the lower head B and 'are provided with adj listing-nuts c', as shown.

The upper head or chamber A is in communication with the steam-coil or other appliance that it is intended to drain through the pipe-connection D, which may be provided with the usual sediment-chamber D and sediment blow-off cock D2, while the lower head or chamber B is connected to the discharge-pipe B2, extending to a tank or other receiver arranged at any suitable point.

From the bottom of the chamber A depends j the expansion-tube E, at the lower end of which is tiXedly attached the vertically-moving valve chamber or casing F, adapted to slide on the tie-rods l, and having at its lower end a stuffing-box F', through which passes in a steam-tight manner the tubular valvestem G, which is xedly connected to the lower or discharge head or chamber B. In practice the usual rod-brace C will be employed to brace the rods C to prevent any accidental bending of the same.

The novel features of my present improvement consists, iirst, in the provision of stiff spring-washers c2 beneath the adj usting-nuts c', so as to allow of a slight vertical movement or spreading apart of the heads A and B when the expansiontube is unduly expanded by an excessive temperature or pressure of steam; secondly, in making the valvestem G of a tubular form, opening at its lower end into the chamber B, and having near its upper end lateral openings g, that communicate with the interior of tlie valve-casing F, so as to form a water-passage between the same andthe discharge heador chamber B, and, thirdly, in attaching the lower head B to its carrying-spider B by means of adjustingnuts b on each side of the spider, that screw upon the stemh, projecting downwardly from such head to effect a vertical adjustment of said chamber in setting the apparatus.

In the construction of my improved trap it is preferable to use a removable composition valVe-seatf, arranged in an axial recess in the upper end of the valve-chamber F, which is capable of ready-removal and replacement, so as to avoid the necessity of' grinding the valve to its seat when worn.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new,- and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a steam-trap of the type herein described, the combination of the heads A B, expansion-tube E, valve-chamber F, valvestem G, and tie-rods O with the spring-washers c2, arranged beneath the adjusting-nuts c', essentially as set forth.

2. In a stean'it1ap of the type herein described, the combination of the heads A B, tie-rods C, expansion-tube E, Valve-chamber F, and Valve-stem G, made tubular with lateral openings nem1 its top, and at its lower end opening into the chamber B, essentially as set forth.

3. In st steam-trap of the type. herein described, the combination of the heads A B, tierocls C, expansion-tube E, Valve-chamber F, and Valve-stem G with the spider B', adjusting-nuts b, and downwardly-projeoting stem b on the bottom of the head or chambeil B, essentially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Witness Inyhand this 29th cla-y of August, 1889.

JOHN MCD. STUART.

In presence of- ROBERT BURNS, GEO. H. ARTHUR. 

